Tom Corbetthttp://wesa.fm
enCorbett Names New Office of Open Records Directorhttp://wesa.fm/post/corbett-names-new-office-open-records-director
<p>Erik Arneson will become the new executive director of the Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records Gov. Tom Corbett announced Friday.</p><p>Arneson will replace Terry Mutcher, the office’s first director who is stepping down to join the law firm Pepper Hamilton in Philadelphia where she will head a government transparency practice.</p><p>In 2006, Arneson&nbsp;joined the staff of Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R- Delaware County) as communications and policy director. There, he helped develop the Right-to-Know Law and the office of Office of Open Records.</p>Fri, 09 Jan 2015 18:25:26 +0000Michael Lynch41575 at http://wesa.fmWhat Governor-elect Wolf Faces in 2015http://wesa.fm/post/what-governor-elect-wolf-faces-2015
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Patriot News and Penn Live editorial and opinion page editor <a href="https://twitter.com/byjohnlmicek">John </a></span><a href="https://twitter.com/byjohnlmicek">Micek</a><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> joins us to <a href="http://blog.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2014/12/theres_porn_in_your_inbox_your.html">look back at a year</a> that saw the election of a new governor in Pennsylvania. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">When Democrat Tom Wolf takes over for Tom Corbett this month, he will face a host of challenges as he tackles an ambitious agenda.</span></p><p>Micek says that the election of Wolf was definitely the biggest political story of 2014 for the Commonwealth; the Democrat’s win broke with Pennsylvania’s longstanding “eight-year rule” by forestalling a second term for Tom Corbett. When Wolf takes office later this month, among his biggest challenges will be a statewide budget deficit of around 2 billion dollars.</p><p>Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:12:41 +0000Essential Pittsburgh41213 at http://wesa.fmWhat Governor-elect Wolf Faces in 2015Corbett Prepares For His Next Gighttp://wesa.fm/post/corbett-prepares-his-next-gig
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Whatever he’s doing after moving out of the governor’s residence, Tom Corbett says, he’ll probably be holding a grandson. The governor says he’s looking forward to more family time as he returns to his Pittsburgh-area home – but he’s not closing the door to an encore in public service.&nbsp;<br />Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:41:06 +0000Mary Wilson40829 at http://wesa.fmCorbett Calls Sting Charges 'Satisfying'http://wesa.fm/post/corbett-calls-sting-charges-satisfying
<p>Gov. Tom Corbett said Wednesday that he's pleased charges have been filed against two additional public officials ensnared by a sting operation that began under his tenure as attorney general.<br /><br />"It's satisfying to see when there appears to be enough evidence to charge somebody and let a jury make the decision as to whether they're innocent or guilty," said Corbett, speaking on Radio Pennsylvania's Ask the Governor program.<br />Wed, 17 Dec 2014 23:14:31 +0000Mary Wilson40520 at http://wesa.fmBudget Report Creates Another Source of Tension in Gubernatorial Transitionhttp://wesa.fm/post/budget-report-creates-another-source-tension-gubernatorial-transition
<p>A mid-year progress report on the state's budget outlook is giving the outgoing Gov. Tom Corbett and incoming Governor-elect Tom Wolf a chance to put each other on notice, becoming the latest chapter in what's becoming a rocky gubernatorial transition.<br /><br />With his legally mandated mid-year budget report Wednesday, Budget Secretary Charles Zogby confirmed what independent agencies have said for months: Next year's budget situation will be tough, due to rising mandated costs, weak revenues, and the amount of one-time funding sources used to balance this year's spending plan.Thu, 04 Dec 2014 15:54:00 +0000Mary Wilson39783 at http://wesa.fmPA's Latest Legislative Session, By the Numbershttp://wesa.fm/post/pas-latest-legislative-session-numbers
<p>State lawmakers are spending the next month getting ready for the new legislative session beginning this month, lining up committee assignments and preparing the proposals they’ll introduce.<br /><br />A bird’s eye view of the two-year session that just wrapped up in November finds that a total of 369 proposals were enacted.<br /><br />House lawmakers introduced 3,610 measures (and 1,091 resolutions), and senators introduced 1,981 proposals (and more than 500 resolutions).<br />Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:13:47 +0000Mary Wilson39707 at http://wesa.fmWomen's Health Advocates Call for SelectPlan Extensionhttp://wesa.fm/post/womens-health-advocates-call-selectplan-extension
<p>Women’s health advocates in Pennsylvania are calling on the Corbett administration to extend a low-income women’s health insurance program set to expire at the end of the year.</p><p>The Women’s Health Caucus sent a letter Thursday to state Human Services Secretary Beverly Mackereth asking for a one-year extension of the SelectPlan for Women program, which provides coverage for gynecological exams, emergency contraception and breast and cervical cancer screenings for an estimated 90,000 women in the commonwealth.</p>Mon, 10 Nov 2014 08:30:00 +0000Michael Lynch38085 at http://wesa.fmVoter Turnout Was Down, But Wolf Was Strong Where It Matteredhttp://wesa.fm/post/voter-turnout-was-down-wolf-was-strong-where-it-mattered
<p>Unofficial statewide tallies show Tuesday’s voter turnout dipped compared to the last gubernatorial election in 2010. Still, Democrat Tom Wolf was able to beat Republican Gov. Tom Corbett with a 10-point margin by piling up votes in the state’s urban centers.<br /><br />Both candidates lost their home counties, but for Wolf, winning the populous Allegheny County more than made up for losing his home turf in York County.<br />Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:55:09 +0000Mary Wilson38379 at http://wesa.fmPost-Election, Governor-Elect Tom Wolf Heads Into a Difficult Futurehttp://wesa.fm/post/post-election-governor-elect-tom-wolf-heads-difficult-future
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The political ads are gone, the polls have closed and the votes have been tabulated. We'll get analysis of yesterday's gubernatorial race from John </span>Baer<span style="line-height: 1.5;">, political columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News. And </span>WESA<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> Senior News Editor Mark </span>Nootbaar<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> joins us with a wrap-up of local races.</span></p><p><em>Live Tweets from this segment</em></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>“I’ve never covered a candidate who has risen this fast and come this far.” John Baer <a href="https://twitter.com/PhillyDailyNews">@PhillyDailyNews</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/WolfForPA">@WolfForPA</a>'s election run <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EPLive?src=hash">#EPLive</a></p>— Essential Pittsburgh (@esspgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/esspgh/status/530048330135769088">November 5, 2014</a></blockquote><p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>“It is going to be very hard for Tom Wolf to get anything done that needs legislative approval” <a href="https://twitter.com/WESAMark">@wesamark</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/WolfForPA">@WolfForPA</a>'s future <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EPLive?src=hash">#EPLive</a></p>— Essential Pittsburgh (@esspgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/esspgh/status/530050515464617984">November 5, 2014</a></blockquote><p>Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:08:00 +0000Essential Pittsburgh38335 at http://wesa.fmPost-Election, Governor-Elect Tom Wolf Heads Into a Difficult FutureConceding PA Governor's Race, Corbett Thanks Supportershttp://wesa.fm/post/conceding-pa-governors-race-corbett-thanks-supporters
<p>Even after the governor’s race had been called for Tom Wolf by several major networks, Gov. Tom Corbett’s wife, Susan, addressed supporters, assuring them the night was young, and her husband would come back to win.<br /><br />That didn’t happen – and shortly before 10 p.m. Tom Corbett addressed a crowd gathered at a downtown Pittsburgh hotel to concede the race.<br /><br />“The privilege of serving as your governor for the last four years is quite an honor, it’s the honor of a lifetime,” Corbett said.<br />Wed, 05 Nov 2014 05:43:25 +0000Deanna Garcia38306 at http://wesa.fmConceding PA Governor's Race, Corbett Thanks SupportersWolf Ousts Corbett In Pennsylvania Governor's Race http://wesa.fm/post/wolf-ousts-corbett-pennsylvania-governors-race
<p>Democrat Tom Wolf was elected Pennsylvania governor Tuesday after the businessman and first-time candidate spent $10 million of his own money on an early TV ad campaign that endeared him to voters and helped send unpopular Gov. Tom Corbett to a historic defeat.<br /><br />When he takes office in January, Wolf will likely face a Republican-controlled Legislature and a yawning budget deficit as he tries to make good on a promise to dramatically increase the state government's share of public school costs.<br /><br />He said he's ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work.<br />Wed, 05 Nov 2014 01:51:28 +0000Marc Levy | The Associated Press38295 at http://wesa.fmWolf Ousts Corbett In Pennsylvania Governor's Race History-Making Campaign For Governor Comes To Votehttp://wesa.fm/post/history-making-campaign-governor-comes-vote
<p>The polls have opened in Pennsylvania's history-making race for governor.<br /><br />Voters are deciding between Democrat Tom Wolf and Republican Gov. Tom Corbett in an election that will settle who will govern the state for the next four years after a campaign that smashed the state's spending record.<br />Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:22:31 +0000The Associated Press & 90.5 WESA38242 at http://wesa.fmHistory-Making Campaign For Governor Comes To VoteCampaigns Hit the Home Stretch, Bracing for Low Turnouthttp://wesa.fm/post/campaigns-hit-home-stretch-bracing-low-turnout
<p>Call it a “prebuttal” — a chance for the state GOP to respond to President Barack Obama’s visit to Pennsylvania before it happens.<br /><br />Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf is scheduled to appear with Obama in Philadelphia at a rally on Sunday, and Republicans are treating it as an opportunity to make some of the president’s low poll numbers stick to Wolf.<br /><br />Most polls show Wolf has a wide lead over Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, but indicate the president is far less popular. &nbsp;<br />Fri, 31 Oct 2014 13:28:34 +0000Mary Wilson38072 at http://wesa.fmFor Corbett, Re-Election Campaign Has Been An Uphill Battlehttp://wesa.fm/post/corbett-re-election-campaign-has-been-uphill-battle
<p></p><p>From the very beginning of the 2014 campaign, Gov. Tom Corbett was fighting an uphill battle. His approval ratings were low, polls consistently showed him running far behind potential Democratic candidates, and the controversy over fracking and school funding were grabbing headlines on a weekly basis.&nbsp;</p><p>Corbett staked his first campaign on fiscal discipline and a no-tax pledge. He had a GOP-controlled Legislature but faltered on most of his major policy priorities.&nbsp;</p>Thu, 30 Oct 2014 15:54:09 +0000Mark Nootbaar & Mary Wilson38007 at http://wesa.fmFor Corbett, Re-Election Campaign Has Been An Uphill BattlePoll: Corbett Gains, But Wolf Keeps Big Lead In Gubernatorial Racehttp://wesa.fm/post/poll-corbett-gains-wolf-keeps-big-lead-gubernatorial-race
<p></p><p><a href="http://www.fandm.edu/fandmpoll/survey-releases">A new Franklin &amp; Marshall poll</a> shows Gov. Tom Corbett has made gains in his race for re-election, but Democratic hopeful Tom Wolf maintains a double-digit lead among registered and likely voters surveyed.</p><p>The York County cabinet magnate is 13 points ahead of Corbett among self-reported likely voter respondents. It's a narrowing lead, and it reflects the work Corbett has done to appeal to his base. 63 percent of surveyed Republicans say Corbett deserves re-election, up from 39 percent in August.</p>Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:52:26 +0000Mary Wilson37940 at http://wesa.fmPoll: Corbett Gains, But Wolf Keeps Big Lead In Gubernatorial RaceBill Clinton Stumps for Wolf in Pittsburghhttp://wesa.fm/post/bill-clinton-stumps-wolf-pittsburgh
<p></p><p>Former President Bill Clinton came to Pittsburgh on Monday to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf.</p><p>Clinton addressed several hundred Wolf supporters at a South Side union hall as the first-time candidate tries to knock off Republican Gov. Tom Corbett. Those in attendance also heard from other politicians including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) , U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14) and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.</p>Mon, 27 Oct 2014 19:55:42 +0000Erika Beras & The Associated Press37844 at http://wesa.fmBill Clinton Stumps for Wolf in PittsburghThis Week in PA Politics 10/27http://wesa.fm/post/week-pa-politics-1027
<p><strong>Animal rights bill fails to move out of state House:</strong> A bill that banned the practice of consuming cats and dogs in private received unanimous support in the state House back in December of 2013. Once it was sent to the Senate for approval, however, a pigeon-shooting amendment was added, causing the bill to languish in committee when it was sent back to the House, <a href="http://wesa.fm/post/animal-rights-bill-dies-state-legislature">90.5 WESA’s Mary Wilson reports</a>.</p>Mon, 27 Oct 2014 16:19:48 +0000Vincent Smith37826 at http://wesa.fmThis Week in PA Politics 10/27New Film Studio Aims To Bolster Pittsburgh Film Industry And Struggling Boroughhttp://wesa.fm/post/new-film-studio-aims-bolster-pittsburgh-film-industry-and-struggling-borough
<p>Pittsburgh has gotten a lot of attention from Hollywood in recent years, with several high-profile films and television shows being shot here. With the help of a new film complex in McKees Rocks, the hope is that the industry will continue to expand.</p><p>“We announce the groundbreaking for the region’s first built, newly constructed, multi-stage complex for production of TV shows, commercials and feature films,” said Mike Dolan, president of Island Studios.</p>Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:29:36 +0000Deanna Garcia37673 at http://wesa.fmNew Film Studio Aims To Bolster Pittsburgh Film Industry And Struggling BoroughChildren’s Hospital to Expand, With Taxpayer Helphttp://wesa.fm/post/children-s-hospital-expand-taxpayer-help
<p>According to Diane Hupp, chief nursing officer at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, the neonatal unit at the hospital is running out of space.</p><p>“Five years ago, we had 31 neonatal beds. Today, we have over 60 neonates in the hospital and we are busting at the seams,” Hupp said.</p><p>That’s one of the challenges caused by the hospital’s rapid growth since its relocation to Lawrenceville in 2009, a challenge that administrators hope can be overcome with a $19 million expansion project announced Wednesday.</p>Wed, 22 Oct 2014 18:43:20 +0000Liz Reid37620 at http://wesa.fmChildren’s Hospital to Expand, With Taxpayer HelpSocial Media and the Gubernatorial Electionhttp://wesa.fm/post/social-media-and-gubernatorial-election
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Do Governor Corbett and his challenger Tom Wolf have as many followers on Twitter and Facebook as their campaigns would lead you to believe? We’ll look at the role social media is playing in this year’s gubernatorial election with Pittsburgh Tribune Review reporter Andrew </span>Conte<span style="line-height: 1.5;">.</span></p><p>Wed, 22 Oct 2014 18:11:58 +0000Essential Pittsburgh37619 at http://wesa.fmSocial Media and the Gubernatorial ElectionBill Clinton To Campaign In Pennsylvania For Wolf http://wesa.fm/post/bill-clinton-campaign-pennsylvania-wolf
<p>Former President Bill Clinton is coming to Pittsburgh to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf.<br /><br />The Wolf campaign said Clinton will lead a mid-day rally Monday at an electrical workers' union hall on Pittsburgh's South Side. Wolf is challenging Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's re-election bid.<br /><br />Clinton is the third political celebrity to campaign for Wolf in as many weeks, following separate appearances in Philadelphia by his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and first lady Michelle Obama.<br />Tue, 21 Oct 2014 17:05:29 +0000The Associated Press37560 at http://wesa.fmThree Pennsylvanians On Flight Carrying Nurse With Ebolahttp://wesa.fm/post/three-pennsylvanians-flight-carrying-nurse-ebola
<p>Three Pennsylvanians were on a Monday flight with a nurse now known to be infected with Ebola, Gov. Tom Corbett said during a Friday news conference on the state’s response to the Ebola outbreak.<br /><br />The three people were on a flight from Cleveland to the Dallas area with a Texas nurse who had a low fever at the time and was diagnosed with Ebola two days later. The plane carrying them reportedly made five more trips before it was grounded.<br /><br />Corbett said state officials are making daily phone calls to the three commonwealth residents on the flight.<br />Fri, 17 Oct 2014 16:32:57 +0000Mary Wilson37396 at http://wesa.fmGubernatorial Campaign Leaves Liquor Privatization Behindhttp://wesa.fm/post/gubernatorial-campaign-leaves-liquor-privatization-behind
<p>A once popular issue is now falling into the background, especially in the upcoming gubernatorial general election: the privatization of liquor.</p><p>Back in January of 2013, Governor Tom Corbett proposed changing Pennsylvania’s liquor laws and joining the already “48 other states,” whose sale and control of wine and spirits rests in the hands of the private market. Utah is the only other state with controls similar to Pennsylvcania's.</p>Thu, 16 Oct 2014 17:17:22 +0000Vincent Smith37198 at http://wesa.fmEmail Scandal and Close of PA Legislative Sessionhttp://wesa.fm/post/email-scandal-and-close-pa-legislative-session
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">We'll talk with Harrisburg Patriot News Editorial Page Editor </span><a href="http://connect.pennlive.com/staff/jlmicek/posts.html" style="line-height: 1.5;">John Micek</a><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> about the latest news related to the scandal involving current and former state employees trading raunchy emails. How will it impact the governor's race with three weeks left before election day? And what's on tap in the final days of the legislative session?</span></p><p>Tue, 14 Oct 2014 21:27:14 +0000Essential Pittsburgh37242 at http://wesa.fmEmail Scandal and Close of PA Legislative SessionCorbett, Wolf Continue to Trade Blows at Third and Final Debatehttp://wesa.fm/post/corbett-wolf-continue-trade-blows-third-and-final-debate
<p></p><p>Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democratic challenger Tom Wolf met for their third and final debate in Wilkinsburg Wednesday evening.</p><p>The tone was less combative than previous debates, which Wolf attributed to the format of the debate, in which each candidate had one minute to respond to questions from an in-studio panel and the public via social media.</p><p>The main topics of the evening were education funding and the state’s pension debt shortfall.</p>Thu, 09 Oct 2014 12:07:12 +0000Liz Reid37003 at http://wesa.fmCorbett, Wolf Continue to Trade Blows at Third and Final DebateSome Say Bit-By-Bit Disclosures in Porn Email Scandal Show Political Motivehttp://wesa.fm/post/some-say-bit-bit-disclosures-porn-email-scandal-show-political-motive
<p>For the past week, Democratic Attorney General Kathleen Kane has released information in a piecemeal fashion about bawdy e-mails exchanged by current and former state employees years ago. Some say the office has done little to quell criticism that the bit-by-bit disclosures show political motive.<br /><br />Chief Justice Ronald Castille called it a “show and tell” last week — the way the attorney general revealed raunchy images sent or received by eight men who worked under Gov. Tom Corbett when he helmed the AG’s office. All the men named by Kane’s office are Republicans.<br />Fri, 03 Oct 2014 20:56:14 +0000Mary Wilson36774 at http://wesa.fmU.S. Steel Staying Put in Pittsburgh; Manufacturing Bouncing Back in PAhttp://wesa.fm/post/us-steel-staying-put-pittsburgh-manufacturing-bouncing-back-pa
<p>Governor Tom Corbett announced Friday that U.S. Steel is keeping its headquarters in Pittsburgh and expanding its Mon Valley Works operation.</p><p>The announcement came as state officials fanned across Pennsylvania to mark National Manufacturing Day.</p><p>U.S. Steel employs some 4,300 people in the Pittsburgh region. In an effort to keep them headquartered in the steel city, Corbett says the state has committed up to $30.7 million in grants for expansions and improvements.</p>Fri, 03 Oct 2014 19:41:11 +0000Deanna Garcia36764 at http://wesa.fmU.S. Steel Staying Put in Pittsburgh; Manufacturing Bouncing Back in PA Abruzzo Resigns In Wake Of Claims He Exchanged Raunchy E-Mailshttp://wesa.fm/post/abruzzo-resigns-wake-claims-he-exchanged-raunchy-e-mails
<p>Chris Abruzzo has turned in his resignation as head of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, one week after the attorney general’s office named him among state employees who swapped sexually explicit e-mails on state computers years ago while working for then-attorney general Tom Corbett.<br /><br />In a letter to the governor, Abruzzo says assertions made by the attorney general’s office have become a “distraction” from the governor’s administration.<br />Thu, 02 Oct 2014 18:18:19 +0000The Associated Press36691 at http://wesa.fmSparks Fly at 2nd Corbett, Wolf Campaign Debate http://wesa.fm/post/sparks-fly-2nd-corbett-wolf-campaign-debate
<p>A lively second debate between Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democratic challenger Tom Wolf became tense Wednesday as Wolf sought to assign blame to Corbett for budget deficits and struggling schools while Corbett tried to frame Wolf as the candidate who will favor labor unions over taxpayers.<br /><br />Corbett and Wolf met during the one-hour "Breakfast with the Candidates" event at KYW-TV and KYW-AM in Philadelphia.<br />Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:19:10 +0000The Associated Press36619 at http://wesa.fmSparks Fly at 2nd Corbett, Wolf Campaign Debate Wednesday Brings Second Of Three Corbett-Wolf Debateshttp://wesa.fm/post/wednesday-brings-second-three-corbett-wolf-debates
<p>Gov. Tom Corbett heads into his second debate with Democratic challenger Tom Wolf with renewed energy, after a strong performance in the candidates’ first debate last week.<br /><br />But Wednesday morning’s debate will air on radio and TV stations in the Philadelphia area, where most of the state’s Democratic voters reside.<br /><br />“The geography of this certainly favors Wolf,” said Terry Madonna, director of the Franklin &amp; Marshall College Poll and a political science professor.<br />Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:49:00 +0000Mary Wilson36584 at http://wesa.fm